Thursday, August 30, 2012

The New York fashion verdict is in.
Your grandmother’s closet will be at the top of your shopping list next fall,
with a retro mix of florals and lace, knit tweeds and, yes, shawls making the
sartorial cut. Chic sportsmanship will be of importance as well, especially
when channeling the great outdoors or reveling in the new take on military.
Travel the globe in style with your arsenal of luxe essentials — fur accents
and elegant embroidery required. And a host of cool options in the way of black
leather or all-white means there will definitely be something for everyone.
Edited by Joanna Hillman. Text by Joyann King & Kerry Pieri.

From
love potions and the magical hour of sunset to witches and warlocks, fantasy
and illusion are inspiring designers this fall season. With an unexpected mix
of darks, brights and neutrals, designers cleverly manipulate reality to
transport consumers to an enchanting place, free from the stresses of everyday
life.

“By
playing to consumers’ practical side with versatile neutrals, and boosting
their confidence with bold, spirited hues, this skillfully balanced palette has
something for everyone,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the
Pantone Color Institute®.

So
what color will elate you this fall? Rose Smoke, Titanium and Rhapsody are just
some of the enchanting hues of the season.”

In
fashion, we are seeing “French Toast” and in Color Pulse Flow, we have “Pancake
Syrup” paint color, which is as yummy as it sounds!

Remember, the best look is to make it
yourown!! Have a favorite fall look? Share it with our cherry friends :).

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Let’s face it. If
you’re a mom, you’re busy. It doesn’t matter what you do with your time:
whether you work or stay home, volunteer or home school, cook up a storm or
craft, not to mention driving the kids from activity to activity. Being a mom is the definition of being
busy.

That means
you need a little pampering here and there. But who has the time? If you have a
free moment, an extra load of laundry could get done. You could finally repair
the tear in Johnny’s soccer uniform. Or you could even, you know, spend some
time with your husband.

But
what if there were ways to pamper yourself that were truly simple? Ways that were very
cheap or even free, which did not require large amounts of time or advance
planning? Would you do it then?

I’m betting
yes. And if your answer is, “Well, maybe…” then you need to think harder about
this. If you’re busy trying to be Super Mom, you need a break. You deserve a
break. You’ll feel
happier and saner and bring that positive energy back to your family.

With
the kids going back to school, this is the perfect week to “pamper yourself!

Call a friend to catch up.

Is there
someone you haven’t talked to in awhile? Put the kids down for a nap (or “quiet
time”) and give her a call. Save it for the weekend if you have to and make
your husband take the kids out to play for awhile. Enjoy a nice, long chat that’s mostly
about your friendship, not your kids. Feel happy because you’ve
remembered old parts of yourself and gotten a verbal hug from a friend.

Keep yourself in a state
of pampered bliss with these homemade recipes (each one is very soothing and
nourishing to the skin):

Mash one-half banana and add one tablespoon honey and
two tablespoons sour cream. Apply this mixture to your face and let set
for 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp washcloth.

Grind one tablespoon almonds into a fine meal in a food
processor or blender. Mix the almond meal together with one tablespoon
honey and one egg white. Apply this mixture to the face and let set for 15
minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp washcloth.

Mash half of an avocado and apply this to the entire
face. Let set for about 20 minutes and then gently wipe off with a damp
washcloth.

Puree half a peeled, sliced cucumber in a food
processor or blender and add one-tablespoon yogurt. Apply this to the face
and let set for about 20 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp washcloth.

Crush a handful of strawberries and mix well with one
teaspoon honey. Apply this mixture to the face and let set for about 15
minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp washcloth.

For a scrub, make a paste from a little
oatmeal and water. Apply to the face and allow to dry. Gently wipe off
with a damp washcloth. Or as a variation, mix two tablespoons cornmeal
with water to make a thick paste. Apply to the face and let dry. Gently
wipe off with a damp washcloth.

Another scrub to enjoy, mix ½ cup of sugar with enough
olive or sunflower oil to moisten the paste. Use small circles to slough
away dead cells and reveal new layers of skin.

Try a mask a few times a week. Makeup artist Diana
Carreiro (who has amazing skin) swears by a weekly paste of 4-6 regular
Aspirin crushed up and mixed with a bit of water. Apply to your face, let
dry and then rinse. “The acid in Aspirin is an excellent exfoliator,” she
says.

Spot-treat blemishes with a clear acne treatment gel.
Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are two of the best blemish-fighting
ingredients to look for. Note: If you have any reactions to these
ingredients, stop using them and see your doctor for a recommended
alternative.

Pour two cups boiling
water over two tablespoons dried Rosemary. Steep this for about 15 minutes.
Strain and let cool. Rinse your hair with this herbal tea.

You can even add dried milk and/or ground
oatmeal (make use of the food processor or blender.)

An
avocado hair mask:

Thanks to
its high fat and protein content, “avocado is very nourishing, just the thing
for taming frizz,” says makeup artist David Goveia, who's beautified the likes
of Kate Moss and Cameron Diaz.

What you
need: Half
of a ripe peeled avocado, one egg and two tablespoons of wheat germ oil. (You
can also substitute wheat germ oil for olive or castor oil.)

Making
it: In
a small bowl, mash the avocado until it's smooth. Then add the egg and oil and
blend well.

Using it:
Massage
the mixture to dry hair, starting from the ends up. Once you've applied it all,
cover your head with a shower cap or small plastic bag, grab a book and set the
timer for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and shampoo out. Note: You can increase
the conditioning benefits by wrapping a warm, moist towel around your head
while you wait.

How often
to use it: For
dry and damaged hair, once a week will help get it back on track. If it's
normal to oily, twice a month is recommended.

Give
yourself a manicure.

And…………..one
of our favorite ways to pamper yourself is to find the time to workout.

Working out
is a GREAT way to relax and pamper. You WILL have more energy too…I
promise! Exercising makes you feel great mentally and physically!
You NEED it! Try to do at least 20 minutes a day. You will love the
way you feel!

Cherry friends, have a favorite way to pamper yourself? Let's share it with everyone, just leave your favorite thing to do in the comments.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Is it just my kids or do your kids have a hard time keeping track of their things a midst all of the kids at school? Let us offer a fun solution to this by personalizing their items with cute iron-on letters. Here are just a few ideas of what you can personalize:
- shirts
- hair bows
- backpacks
- hats
- jeans
- bloomers
- uniforms
- onesies
- handbags
- diaper bags
- aprons
- folders/ notebooks
- lunch boxes
- Pencil Boxes

Just check out some of the fun things you can do with them!

Now your thinking you need some of these great letters, right?! We have you covered!! Just check out www.itssocherry.com on Wednesday for these great iron-on letters for an awesome cherry deal! Have another great suggestion to use the iron-on letters...leave a comment and share them with all of our Cherry Friends.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Has summer felt like a bummer, because you haven't had a vacation? A great summer idea that will feel like a "staycation" is some outdoor fun. My family has felt a bit this way...we have not had a chance for a vacation this summer, so we decided to make the best of what we have right in our own great "backyard". For those not familiar with Utah's great mountainous terrain, it is truly an amazing sight!

We even got the thrills of any great amusement park...just check out how close we were to this HUGE moose!

Any great last minute summer fun ideas? We would love to hear about them! We hope you are enjoying your summer...wherever you may be!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Whatever you choose for
back-to-school wear, make it something that fits your own personality. Even the
most fashionable outfit falls flat if you're not comfortable in it. So take
some trends and make them yours. Here
are some style tips from us to go back to school in style.

Who doesn't love the perfect pair of earrings?

Headbands are in!! Whether you go with feathers, bows, or flowers you won't go wrong this year.

Bangle bracelets are so cute! Stack 'em anyway you want to, but the more the better.

Layered necklaces can add style to any outfit. Mix them up for your own look.

Belts will add depth to a basic tee and pair of jeans, dress, or a great shirt with a cute pair of leggings.

Wrap watches or bracelets are simple accessory, but great to add to any outfit.

Everything has bling...why not your phone :)!

Make your shoes any way you want to. Fit your own style and personality, and have some fun doing it!

Peace signs are a popular accessory this year. Sport them on rings, watches, shirts, or necklaces...super cute any day of the week.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Ah...it's back to school time!! I love my kids, but I am excited for school to start :). Are you prepared for your kids to go back to school? We thought we might give a few tips on ways to help you get prepared and organized for this coming school year. You can also get the cutest accessories...just watch www.itssocherry.com for the great cherry deals.

Plan Ahead

Experts recommend week-at-a-glance planners or family calendars. Put them up where everyone can see the and add to it if necessary.

Start
early. Start getting ready to return to school at least four weeks before the
first bell rings. It is recommended to start easing kids back into a bedtime four weeks before school starts.

Visit
the school. Meet the teacher. I highly recommend that you make an effort early on to get to know her and understand her expectations. Let her know you would like to work together to make sure your child has a good year.

Visit
the doctor.

Set
the stage. Get the house ready. Get
the kids’ school clothes organized and accessible.

Keep
a positive attitude about the start of school even when things don’t go exactly
your way.

Stay Stocked

Prevent last minute freak-outs with a supply stash: markers, index cards, and so on.

Have Morning and
Evening Routines

My household functions on routines. This will make getting them ready in the morning and at bedtime smoother, and that means more peace and quiet for you!

Make Goals

Making small, but frequent goals motivates kids to make great steps and reach great milestones in school.

We wish everyone a great school year! Have a great tip? Let us know, we would love to share it with our cherry friends.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

It's So Cherry is all about having the greatest accessories, but not having to pay the department store prices. In that spirit, we wanted to share some fun ways to "refurbish" some of the great things you already have into some super cute finds that will have people all over asking you where you got it from.
Cherry friends, want to know how to do any of these fun ideas? Just message us and we will get you the information. It was way too much to post :).

Don't we all love our bags? This one is made out of a pillowcase!

Did you have a hard time finding the color of sneakers you wanted? DIY!! Get your sneaks in any shade you want.

What about your girls? Let them make their shoes look exactly how they want them. Super easy and great fun. What a great afternoon activity!

Okay, who thought of a waterproof blanket? Genius! There is nothing worse than going to the park with the kids and the grass is wet. I wish I would have seen this a long time ago!